Health-care challenges top of mind as Saskatchewan awaits 2025-26 budget
As Saskatchewan awaits details of the 2025-26 provincial budget, the state of health care in the province is front of mind for many.
The government will 'continue to deliver better access to health care and deliver on our commitment to increase the number of surgeries performed annually to reduce wait times,' Premier Scott Moe said in a social media post Monday.
His post went on to say that his government will 'build on investments,' like the $15-million recently announced for the expansion, renovation and equipment upgrades at Saskatoon's City Hospital, and shorten surgical wait times 'by ensuring 450,000 surgeries are performed over the next four years.'
But the Opposition has its doubts.
Saskatchewan has 'fallen to the back of the pack' when it comes to health care, the NDP said in a news release issued Tuesday.
'We need more doctors, nurses, and frontline health care workers — but instead of fixing the crisis, the Sask. Party is driving workers out and expanding the bureaucracy,' said NDP health critic Vicki Mowat in the release.
And the Opposition's critic for the status of women took issue with the fact that some Saskatchewan patients have had to go out of province for breast cancer screening.
'It shouldn't be too much to ask for a mammogram close to home,' Brittney Senger said in the release.
In late 2023, former health minister Everett Hindley said out-of-province mammogram referrals to a clinic in Calgary was a short term solution to cut down on surgical wait times. In February, the government renewed its contract with that clinic to continue referrals until March 31, 2026.
The province also announced multiple initiatives in 2024 relating to breast cancer care and screening, including a new Breast Health Centre in Regina, which is slated to open in spring 2025.
The 2024-25 budget allocated some $7.6-billion toward health. When released in March 2024, the government said that budget was intended to 'stabilize' the health sector. But despite ongoing work through the province's Health Human Resources Action Plan (meant to recruit and retain health-care workers) and capacity pressure action plans put in place in Regina and Saskatoon, health-care unions have continued to ring alarm bells over staffing shortages, high patient numbers and overflowing emergency rooms.
The 2025-26 budget will be unveiled Wednesday afternoon.
Mixed reactions as Sask. announces new breast cancer care, screening initiatives
Health spending focused on 'stabilization,' staffing
bharder@postmedia.com
For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.
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